One and three quarters inch form factor tape cartridge autoloader

1. A tape cartridge autoloader sized to fit within a full height one and three-quarter inch form factor, comprising: a U-shaped track centrally located in the tape cartridge autoloader; a tape drive having a tape cartridge aperture for inserting/extracting a plurality of tape cartridges, one at a time; a plurality of respective spaced positions for storing the plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive are horizontally positioned in a U-shape corresponding to and around the U-shaped track with the tape drive being centrally located at the rear of the U-shaped track; a means for transporting a predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges between one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive; and wherein as the transport means travels along the U-shaped track, the means for transport is aligned with one of the tape drive and the plurality of respective spaced positions.

2. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises: a transport call for holding the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges as the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges is transported between one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive; a means for inserting/extracting the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges into/out of the transport cell, and a drive assembly driven by a single motor connected to the transport cell and interfacing with the U-shaped track for moving the transport cell between the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

3. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 2 wherein the means for inserting/extracting comprises: a retractable arm connected to the transport means for moving the predetermined one of the tape cartridges into/out of the transport means; and an actuator means driven by a single motor for extending/retracting the retractable arm.

4. The tap cartridge autoloader of claim 1 further comprising: a means for positioning the transport means at a predetermined one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

5. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 4 wherein the positioning means comprises: a sensing device connected to the transport means; and plurality of locator means, each one of the plurality of locating means connected to one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive, wherein as the transport means travels around the U-shaped track the sensing means engages with the locator means to locate each one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

6. A tape cartridge autoloader comprising: a generally rectangular outer housing sized to fit within a full height one and three quarter inch form factor, the outer housing having a front panel; a means for loading/unloading a plurality of tape cartridges to/from the tape cartridge autoloader through an aperture in the front panel of the outer housing; a tape drive having a tape cartridge aperture for inserting/extracting the plurality tape cartridges, one at a time, the tape drive centrally located at the rear of the outer housing; a U-shaped track centrally located in front of the tape drive such that an arcuate end of the U-shaped track is longitudinally aligned with the tape cartridge aperture; a plurality of respective spaced positions for storing the plurality of taps cartridges, wherein the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive are horizontally positioned in a U-shape corresponding to and around the U-shaped track; a means for transporting a predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges between one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive; and wherein as the transport means travels along the U-shaped track, the transport means is aligned with one of the tape drive and the plurality of respective spaced positions.

7. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 6 wherein the loading/unloading means comprises: retractable storage means for loading/unloading the plurality of tape cartridges to/from the tape cartridge autoloader; a means for sliding the retractable storage means into/out of the tape cartridge autoloader.

8. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 7 wherein the retractable storage means comprises: a drawer mounted for sliding between a retracted position in which the drawer is contained within the outer housing and an extended position in which the drawer extends beyond the front panel of the outer housing; a means for retracting the drawer from the outer housing; and a means for securing the drawer in place when the drawer is retracted into the tape cartridge autoloader.

9. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 8 wherein the drawer is a removable magazine for loading/unloading one or more tape cartridges.

10. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 6 wherein the transport means comprises: a transport cell for holding the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges a the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges is transported between one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive; a means for inserting/extracting the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges into/out of the transport cell, and a drive assembly driven by a single motor connected to the transport cell and interfacing with the U-shaped track for moving the transport cell between the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

11. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 10 wherein the means for inserting/extracting comprises: a retractable arm connected to the transport means for moving the predetermined one of the tape cartridges into/out of the transport means; and an actuator means driven by a single motor for extending/retracting the retractable arm.

12. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 6 further comprising: a means for positioning the transport means at a predetermined one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

13. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 12 wherein the positioning means comprises: a sensing device connected to the transport means; and a plurality of locator means, each one of the plurality of locating means connected to one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive, wherein as the transport means travels around the U-shaped track the sensing means engages with the locator means to locate each one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

14. A tape cartridge autoloader comprising: a generally rectangular chassis sized to fit within a full height one end three quarter inch form factor, the chassis having a front panel; a tape cartridge loading/unloading means; a tape drive having a tape cartridge aperture for inserting/extracting the plurality tape cartridges, one at a time, the tape drive centrally located at the rear of the chassis; a U-shaped back centrally located in front of the tape drive such that an arcuate end of the U-shaped track is longitudinally aligned with the tape cartridge aperture; a plurality of means for storing the plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the plurality of storage means include an open side for inserting/extracting one of the plurality of tape cartridges and the tape drive and the plurality of storage means are horizontally orientated in a U-shape corresponding to and around the U-shaped track; a means for transferring a predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges between one of the plurality of storage means and the tape drive, wherein as the transferring means travels along the U-shaped track, the transferring means is aligned with the tape drive and the plurality of storage means; and a drive mechanism driven by a single motor for moving the transfer means around the U-shaped track, the drive mechanism connected to the transfer means and interfacing with the U-shaped track.

15. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 14 wherein the tape cartridge loading/unloading means comprises: a retractable storage means movable between a retracted position within the chassis and an extended position in which a portion of the retractable storage means extends beyond the front panel of the chassis for loading/unloading, one at a time, the plurality of tape cartridges, wherein the retractable storage means is one of the plurality of storage means; a means for retracting the retractable storage means from the chassis; and a means for securing the retractable storage means in place when the retractable storage means is retracted into the chassis.

16. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 15 further comprising: a sensing means for positioning the transfer means at a predetermined one of the plurality of storage means and the tape drive.

17. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 14 wherein the tape cartridge loading means comprises: a removable magazine for loading/unloading one or more of the plurality of taps cartridges, wherein the removable magazine is a portion of the plurality of storage means; a means for sliding the removable magazine into/out of the chassis, wherein the removable magazine includes one or more of the plurality of storage means; and a means for securing the removable magazine when the removable magazine is inserted into the chassis.

18. The tape cartridge autoloader of claim 14 wherein the means for transferring comprises: a transport cell for holding the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges; a retractable picker means connected to the transport cell for transferring the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges into/out of the transport cell; and a drive mechanism driven by a single motor for moving the transport cell around the U-shaped truck.

19. A method of engaging a predetermined one of a plurality of tape cartridges with a tape drive of which the plurality of tape cartridges and the tape drive area located within a tape cartridge autoloader conforming to a one and three quarter inch height form factor, the method comprising: loading at least one of the plurality of tape cartridges into at least one of a plurality of respective spaced positions within the tape cartridge autoloader; wherein said loading comprises: extracting a retractable storage cell from the tape cartridge autoloader, loading the plurality of tape cartridges into the retractable storage cell, one at a time; retracting the retractable storage cell into the tape cartridge autoloader; and transferring the plurality of tape cartridges, one at a time, to a one of the plurality of respective spaced positions; and transferring the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges from a predetermined one of the plurality of respective spaced positions to the tape drive via a transport mechanism, comprising: inserting the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges into the transport mechanism; and moving the transport mechanism with a single motor through a set of gears between the predetermined one of the plurality of respective spaced positions and the tape drive.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said inserting comprises: extending a retractable arm from the transport mechanism with a single motor driven belt through a set of gears; and retracting the retractable arm to pull the predetermined one of the plurality of tape cartridges from a predetermined one of the plurality of respective spaced positions to the transport mechanism.